A key clash at the top end of the Eastern Conference is ahead at midweek as D.C. United play host to the Houston Dynamo at RFK Stadium on Wednesday evening. United find themselves sitting in fourth place in the East, coming off a 1-1 home draw with Montréal last weekend. The Dynamo are just two points ahead, in a tie for second place in the division following their 1-0 win against the LA Galaxy to conclude a three-game homestand.

The Dynamo have a five-game winning streak alive vs. D.C. United in league play, including victories in both games at RFK Stadium last year. United’s last win against Houston came April 28, 2012, a 2-1 win in Washington.

The Dynamo have never lost to D.C. United in Houston, winning nine of 10 meetings there all-time in league and cup play (with one draw).

HOUSTON DYNAMO
The Houston Dynamo saw their two-game winning run put to a sudden halt, falling 5-2 to Real Salt Lake on Sunday evening at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Dynamo are in a tie for third place in the Eastern Conference with 14 points from 11 games.

LAST MATCH

The game's lone goal came through some good fortune in the 61st minute. LA goalkeeper Jaime Penedo misplayed a throw-in from the right touchline and rookie Mark Sherrod was quick to take possession in the left side of the box, before finding Giles Barnes who hit a skillful shot with the inside of his right foot inside the far post.

Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall was called upon to make five saves and was beaten in the first half by a shot from A.J. DeLaGarza, but it was cleared off the goal line by Houston defender David Horst.

Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear made three changes to the team that fell 5-2 to Real Salt Lake at BBVA Compass Stadium. Jermaine Taylor came into central defense in place of A.J. Cochran, Warren Creavalle started for the suspended Servando Carrasco, and Will Bruin came back into the team in place of Brad Davis.

The Dynamo ended their three-game homestand by taking six of a possible nine points, and now head to trips to D.C. and San Jose over the week.

“Really happy, great three points, great bounce back from last week,” said Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear. “… Love watching them win games, especially at home in front of a great crowd. To put the work in, like I said it was a great answer to walk off the field from last week.”

After scoring his first two career professional goals against Real Salt Lake at the weekend, Mark Sherrod set up the lone goal in the win vs. LA.

Giles Barnes scored his third goal in the last four games to lead the Dynamo to the victory.

“He did well on the ball, and then he showed some real good composure to play the ball back to Giles (Barnes),” said Kinnear. “That was a great finish by the way – if Giles put it somewhere else it could’ve been blocked, it hit the perfect spot.”

In what was Boniek Garcia’s final game with the Dynamo before joining the Honduras national team in preparation for the FIFA World Cup, he had to come off just a quarter of the way into the game with an injury.

“The reason was a little bit of tightness in his hamstring. I don’t think it’s terrible. It’s not something that’s going to keep him out for a long period of time, but he said he felt something in the back of his leg. That’s where the icepack went, and it was enough to take him out of the game,” Kinnear said.

Goalkeeper Tally Hall was credited with his fifth shutout of the season, tied for the league lead with Sporting KC’s Eric Kronberg. Four of Hall’s shutouts have come at BBVA Compass Stadium.

“I think LA was afraid of us imposing our will on their forwards. I thought Jermaine [Taylor] and I did a great job, because those forwards didn’t end the game with them,” said center back David Horst. “Hopefully that’s what we can keep doing is imposing our will on other team’s offenses, and keep zeros in the back. That’s all we can do as a defense.”